Audio streaming giant Spotify (SPOT) says it will add content advisories to any material mentioning COVID-19 and direct users to public health sites for more information.
Spotify is facing backlash for its decision to continue to air the popular podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” despite concerns that it is spreading COVID-19 misinformation. Host Joe Rogan interviewed Dr. Robert Malone, an infectious disease specialist who has become well-known among anti-vaccine Americans. Malone has been banned from Twitter.
Over the weekend, guitarist Nils Lofgren, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, became the latest musician to pull songs from Spotify to protest the streaming service carrying Rogan’s podcast.
Spotify said it plans to add a content advisory on any podcast episode that mentions COVID-19. It will direct listeners to a hub of information from public health experts, scientists and physicians, he said. He also published the platform’s rules.
Neil Young began the boycott of Spotify, insisting that the company remove his music. Joni Mitchell said last week that she would join the protest and get her music pulled as well.
In a statement, Lofgren urged others to stand with “hundreds of health care professionals, scientists, doctors and nurses in calling out Spotify for promoting lies and misinformation that are hurting and killing people.”
Lofgren said the last 27 years of his music has already been taken off Spotify and he is working with music labels to get the earlier songs removed.
Spotify’s shares closed last Friday (January 28) at $172.98 U.S., up about 1%. Shares have fallen 26% so far this year. The company’s stock hit a 52-week low of $164.41 U.S. on Friday amid market volatility and the COVID-19 controversy.
